"W.E." Premiere - Madonna! And the Cast! by berndt2

Although I haven’t journalised them; ever since War Horse on Sunday, there mini-premieres on Monday (‘Margin Call’ with Jeremy Irons and Paul Bettany) and Tuesday (‘Shame’ with Steve McQueen and Mark Strong)… and on the FOURTH day in the row I was out again, this time for a (re-) Premiere for the Madonna-directed ‘W.E.’. When it had its first premiere last year, I was across the other side of Leicester Square wondering why Steven Spielberg didn’t turn up to his own premiere at Tintin (he was in France, that’s why!)

Anyway, for whatever reason, W.E. had a second premiere, this time just prior to the general release. Here’s how it went down:

Location : Odeon Kensington, which is a bit out of town. Apparently Leicester Square is being gutted (like, yet again) as part of its restoration.

Check out the crazed Madonna fans. (Admittedly this was early. Then, weirdly, all the female fans started arriving and they were all really short, and standing behind me, and pushing forward). (Also, the more manic Dealers were in another pen closer to the cinema doors. Phew… always glad when they’re not around)

“Hi, I’m Kev from the Hardware Channel. I’m here for the Madonna premiere of ‘W.E.’ because… I have no clue. Back to you, Steve, in the studio, to talk about chainsaws”

“So, what was it like working with Madonna?”.
“No idea, I’m just an accountant from up the road”
(Actually, he’s producer Kris Thykier. Apparently she’s very focussed and driven and all that good stuff. Maybe it’s better to report on the words he DIDN’T use, like ‘cuddly, cheerful, and consistently spontaneous’ (I kid. There’s probably a word limit on answers)

I always feel faintly betrayed when I photograph somebody who gets interviewed and then doesn’t make it onto the paparazzi pages. Was I duped by a cunning socialite?

She’s not in the film, but she’s got walking down a carpet correct to a T. (Wearing a jacket when it’s 4 degrees outside is her next challenge) (using a flash occasionally is mine)

Whoever Emilia Fox is, this is what she looks like (you’re welcome!).

“Yes, this is my ‘on the back of the coin’ profile. I would insist on the inclusion of the suit jacket and open collar” James D’Arcy plays King Edward in the film. (Sorry about the Dutch tilt you’re gonna get on a lot of these shots – I’m claiming it’s a deliberate artistic choice, but it was actually a deliberate strategy to get better autofocus performance past all the fans nearby)

Natalie Dormer plays Elizabeth (the Queen Mother, then?) in the film. She’s also apparently in Captain America. So there you go.

Singer Ronan Keating looks mildly freaked. Yeah… my 70-200mm f2.8 at close range will do that. Sadly, I’m so scrunched up in my spot in the crowd that later, when Madonna comes to within about 40cm of the lens, I’ll be forced to put the camera down and just kind of stand there.

I have no idea who she is, but she’s pretty, and after a whole bunch of basically all-male premieres like ‘War Horse’ and the unjournaled ‘Shame’ and ‘Margin Call’ premieres of the prior three days, I’m pretty happy.

“Wait. You think my skin colour isn’t totally natural?? THAT’S HILARIOUS”. It sure is.

Andrea Riseborough is very pretty and wore a really stunning burgundy-ish dress on the night… neither of which is adequately displayed in this photo. (Wait.. did I just notice a dress style?)

“Some dude over there said something about your dress”. I don’t ,usually, is the point.

“If you love the back of the coins, wait till you see me on the banknotes” British currency lost out when Edward abdicated, if James D’Arcy and his suit are any indication. Still, Love is important. I’m told.

With cornrows (?) in your hair like that, you’d have to be famous, no? (Apparently ‘no’ is the answer – she’s not on Wireimage)

Hee! Who says she’s not spontaneous?

“Sssshhhh… I’m just getting to the good part, but I have to whisper it for effect!”

Madonna’s handlers pursued a strategy of ‘yo-yo-ing’ her back and forth from the media area to the crowd to alternate between being interviewed and signing autographs. And then, sporadically, her hair would be brushed on the carpet. Intriguing

“Say one thing about ‘Cast Away’ and these two guys are gonna beat you to a pulp. Now, what can I sign for you!?”

And then, just after signing the poster board and vinyl album of the girl next to me, Madonna seemingly got a full hairstyle and trim right in front of me. I’d like to call the hairdresser Jacques. He looks the ‘Jacques’ type. Or maybe ‘Stefffan’ (with three f’s and a dot above the ‘a’ or something)

Stefffan says : “This will take about fifteen minutes. You’re cool with that, ja?”

“Why yes, I would say that we are living in a material world and I am a material girl. Also, obviously, that music. Makes the people. Come together. Yeah.”

Fave shot of the night was the long range one when she decided at the last moment to turn around from facing the paparazzi and sign a couple more autographs and the security goons didn’t react fast enough to cover her fore and aft flanks (or something). I call this photo It’s Madonna – because it is!

I have no idea, but I love the hair. Of both of them.

And, randomly, en route home via Seven Dials, I took a photo that wasn’t at a Premiere for once (hey, it happens!)

Overall, quite a pleasant premiere in the cold of London, even though sadly actress Abbie Cornish didn’t show up (she’s in the movie). Still, it’s another one for The Archive of Movie Premieres

Until next time!